Sikhs in Bangkok serve Chabeel to mark the martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji
Sikhs in Bangkok, Thailand serve Chabeel today morning to mark the 410th martyrdom day of Guru Arjan Dev Ji to the public to pass on the message that one should be eternally optimistic, a teaching of Guru Sahib. People from other communities also participated in serving sweet pink drink to people. 'With god's grace we put Chabeel's every year on this day', said one of the volunteers. For years, Sikhs have offered a pink cold drink -‘chabeel’ to the general public on hot days, between the months of May and June. Chabeel’ is a Punjabi word referring to a sweet, cool, and a non-alcoholic drink. In summers, when people feel hot and tired, Sikhs stand in the heat to spread positive energy and pour chilled pink ‘chabeel’ in glasses that are distributed with full fervour. This refreshing drink is served to the public to pass on the message that one should be eternally optimistic. People across the world are treated to free drinks courtesy of the Sikh community. Here’s why Chabeel is served by Sikhs- Guru Arjan Dev Ji was made to sit on a red hot iron sheet with Mughal soldiers pouring burning hot sand on his body. He was dipped in boiling water and was tortured for five days. It is said that Mian Mir (a Muslim Sufi Saint and friend of Guru Sahib) tried to intercede on behalf of the Guru, but Guru Ji forbade him to interfere, saying that it is the “Will of the Almighty” All this torture because Guru Sahib had declined the marriage proposal of Chandu Shah’s daughter. Chandu Shah was a successful banker with the Mughals. When Chandu’s daughter-in-law heard about the torture, she bribed the jailor and came to the prison where Guru sahib was kept. With sherbet and other delicacies to serve the Guru, she offered him to sip the sweetened water. The Guru declined to accept anything from Chandu’s house but blessed the lady for her faith and devotion. When the tyrants failed to find more ways to torture the Guru who had borne all of it with complete equanimity, he was asked for a bath in the river Ravi by the side of the Mughal fort, in which he was imprisoned. His bare body glistened with blisters. There were blisters on his feet and he couldn’t even walk properly “Sweet is Your will, O God; the gift of your Name alone I seek.” said the Guru again and again. Guru Sahib took the holy dip and was never seen again. Chabeel marks the remembrance to the torture meted out to Guru Arjan Dev Ji and finally the relief that river Ravi provided to him. On any other Gurparv, Langars are organized but it is Guru Arjan Dev Ji’s martyrdom day when symbolically, sikhs setup Chabeels on the roadsides to provide relief from the hot scorching sun to travelers. -PTC News
